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I think it is a bit more nuanced than that. Yes, there is censorship in China, but not everything is censored equally. In particular, bribery cases usually get
by i_beg_to_differ 14y ago
I think it is a bit more nuanced than that. Yes, there is censorship in China, but not everything is censored equally. In particular, bribery cases usually get wide coverage in the media, even in China Daily. If my understanding is correct that's because the consensus is that the top brass is clean, it's just the "underlings" that can be bought. So, the leadership allows reporting of corruption (or even encourages it), as a means of keeping local officials in check. Because the central government is well aware of the problem and regards it as an existential threat, too.
- seanmcdirmid 14y agoWow, the propaganda has worked really well on you. Bribery cases only get publicized when someone has another ax to grind with the official, because otherwise EVERYONE does it. The top brass is not clean at all, even Wen Jiaobao (just check out the NYT reporting about his family's wealth!) but they have enough guanxi to not get called out for it. That Bo Xilai was called out had more to do with him tapping Hu Jintao's phone than him being a corrupt general bad guy! China's family-power politics is very entrenched by now, no one is really immune to it: if you try to be clean, you'll get kicked out because that would make you immune to the nuclear option (don't tell on me, and I won't tell on you). The government will give the public some bones whenever some official makes a serious mistake that can't be covered up, or otherwise someone who has more guanxi than the target has some score to settle.